MADLIFE released their new E.P. “21^ST Century Megalomaniac” on May 14^TH.  Check out their latest single “Just One Gun” here. I spoke with lead singer Angry Phill a few weeks back, check out the chat below.

Dante – Thanks for doing the interview?

Angry Phill – No problem at all. Thanks for having me.

Dante – How has the response been to the new album?

Angry Phill – So far the response has been good from our fans. It’s been overwhelming.

Dante – This album was all D.I.Y. correct?

Angry Phill – We did this whole thing on our own. We had Evan 9 (Evan Rodaniche) from Powerman 5000 come in to do the mixing on the album he also did some co production with us. Everything we do is totally grass roots. It’s just like anything else, if you love what you do you put everything on the table and go for it.

Dante – Where does the sound of the band come from?

Angry Phill – What we do is take all the genres of music and we just threw them into the pot and mix it all up and when we put it together the musical structures are no different than the Beatles. All we have done is thrown industrial sounds into it and pop sensibility’s into it for lack of a better term.

Dante – I think you just over simplified what you do. It sounds like a lot more going on here than just that.

Angry Phill – That’s all we have done. The thing about it is I am such a student of music. I was studying music when I was 6 years old. I started to listen to hip hop when it first hit and I liked the bounce it had so I try to incorporate that bounce. I would disassemble all the music and listen to it down to the second to find out how it works. How long is this chorus, this comes in at 28 to 32 seconds? Then you start to base everything on that and everything is always in 8ths from Snoop Dog to Slayer. Always has been always will be. It’s all the same it’s just how you flavor it. So what I did, I studied everything and threw it all into what Madlife is today.

Dante – Is there any tour or shows that you have done that you still look back on and think wow, I can’t believe this.

Angry Phill – Yeah I think the one thing that everyone in the band can agree on was when we played with Slayer. I can’t believe how great they are. They have been playing for so many years and they still amazing. I also seen them in Toronto and they just destroyed the place. They came out and just dropped the hammer. I was like “Holy shit what did I just see” they are just incredible.

Dante – Is there any tour plans in the works?

Angry Phill – We do have a few things in the works and as soon as we are able to announce it we will.

Dante – What is it that you like best about touring?

Angry Phill – Some nights we might play a 250 to 500 setter and the crowd is just electric. Its intimate and you live for those moments. Then we might be playing in front of 10 to 15,000 people at a festival and as soon as you hit the stage the roar of the crowd knocks you on your ass. You can hear the crowd singing your words and to see people feel just as passionate as you are about something you labored is just incredible. Life does not get any better than that. There are different emotional feelings for each size venue.

Dante – Is there anything you would like to say to your fans before we wrap this up?

Angry Phill – Anyone that knows the band knows that at the end of every show we will go back to the merch area and hang out with people. And to everyone that has had the chance to see us and hang out with us after the shows we greatly appreciate that. And we hope to see you when we get back out on the road. And if you have never seen us and come to a show after the show come hang out.

BUY TICKETS FOR THIS SHOW HERE

FOR MORE INFO CHECK OUT

http://madlifeofficial.com/

AND DON’T FORGET TO LIKE ”ROCKNIGHTMARE.COM”  ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

I recently spoke with vocalist Nick Coyle of the Northeast PA band Stardog Champion. Stardog Champion features members from Breaking Benjamin, Lifer and The Drama Club. Exhale the group’s first EP featuring the single “When We Fall”  Check Out The Interview Below

Stardog Champion is:

Nick Coyle – Vocals, Guitar
Aaron Fink – Guitar, Vocals
Mark James – Bass
Josh Karis – Drums, Percussion

Dante – How are you?

Nick Coyle – I’m good man thanks.

Dante – Congratulations on the album.

Nick Coyle – Thank you.

Dante – Let’s talk about your E.P. Exhale.

Nick Coyle – It was released April 23

Dante – How has the fan response been since its release?

Nick Coyle – We are just trying to get the word out and have everyone hear it. From what we heard so far everyone seems to dig it.

Dante – Are you on a label or is this all D.I.Y.?

Nick Coyle – We are not on a label. This is all do it your self. We recorded with a Grammy-nominated producer. His name is Neal Avron. He worked with Switchfoot, Everclear and Linkin Park.

Dante – How did the CD release party go at Brews Brothers West. (Luzerne PA)

Nick Coyle – It was awesome. We all kind of originated here in the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton area so it was kind of a get together to old fans that we haven’t seen from the Lifer days and for all three of us to be at one show playing together seeing a lot of old faces was really cool.

Dante – Do you guys play any Lifer or Breaking Ben tunes or is it all Stardog Champion?

Nick Coyle – No, no we don’t. It’s a totally different band. We are not ashamed of our past. We embrace our past but we didn’t want to do a Breaking Benjamin or Lifer part two. We are a bit older now. A lot of the stuff was written when I was still in high school. We have grown up a bit since high school. That’s why we choose not to do any of that stuff because we don’t connect with the songs the same way we did back then.

Dante – Are there any plans to make a full length CD?

Nick Coyle – There is talk about going in and recording more. But we think the E.P. is a way to get more music to the fans quicker. If we do about five to seven songs a year I think that’s better than waiting a few years in between records.

Dante – What made you get back together with Aaron and Mark?

Nick Coyle – Our friend had this mini web series we were playing the part of a death metal band and we have not seen each other for a while and we started talking then we started to jam on some songs and seeing were it was going. In the mean time the whole Breaking Benjamin lawsuit thing was going on so we kept things on the down low for a while. Now the lawsuit is over and now we are just trying to get the music out there.

Dante – Is there any tour plans yet?

Nick Coyle – We just got a agent this last week so right now we are working things out.

Dante – Is there anything you would like to say to your fans before we end this?

Nick Coyle – Thanks for sticking with us for all these years through all the different projects. But it’s still about rock n roll. Forming and writing good songs and connecting with the fans as well. I know that’s why I keep doing it and I know that’s why the other guys in the band do it as well. The fans are the inspiration.

FOR MORE INFO CHECK OUT:

https://www.facebook.com/stardogchampionband

AND DON’T FORGET TO LIKE ”ROCKNIGHTMARE.COM”  ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

I can not remember the last time I listened to a CD from a band I never heard of and just loved it. Well now I can, “Furiosity” from Canadian band Monster Truck is awesome. It seems that most bands out there rockin this sound are trying to out Sabbath each other but that is not the case with Monster Truck. These guys take American riff rock and they mesh that with newer influences to bring us what is a great new 70’s sounding record. I absolutely love the song “For The Sun” as well as their first single “Sweet Mountain River”. There is 12 tracks on this CD and all 12 are killer. If you are into rock music with a real twist on the 70’s rock sound this CD is for you.

Monster Truck is comprised of long time friends Jon Harvey (bass & lead vocals), Steve Kiely (drums & vocals), Jeremy Widerman (guitar & vocals) and Brandon Bliss ( organ & vocals).

“Furiosity”  RELEASE DATE: May 28^th

I spoke with Jeremy Widerman check it out below

Dante: How are you?

Jeremy Widerman: I’m good man thanks.

Dante: Thanks for taking the time to speak with me.

Jeremy Widerman: No problem. Thanks for having me.

Dante: First I have to ask about the sound of the band. You guys are from Canada but you sound like you are from the States.

Jeremy Widerman: People have been saying that because bands from Canada have a rock sound that they have come to know. If they are a Canadian rock band they sound like a Canadian rock band. But that’s not our jam. It’s not what we grew up on. It’s not what the band is into and it’s not what I’m into. We were all in different bands doing different things while we were creating this band. And I was kind of pissed off. I was sick of the music industry in general. I was in a band that was a lot softer than this and I was sick of trying to please other people. And doing all the bull shit you have to do. When you are in a band that’s trying to get on the radio and trying to get big sometimes you end up doing things that suck the soul out of your ass. I just got sick of it. I just wanted to be in a band that I love and a band that I think is awesome. I thought to myself “why aren’t there any bands like this around here“. What we do is not too complicated. Its just straight riffs and basic vocals. What’s happening on the guitar is happening on the bass and it’s the same thing that’s happening on the organ and we just turn it all up and blast some drums over it and there you go. For me it was a no brainer. The music felt natural and I know I am making it sound like it was easy but I think the hard part was getting the four members of the band together and make the magic happen. That was a big part if it, what each one of us bring to the table and our influences. I felt like I must be stupid to think no one else is doing this here and three years later there is still no one else playing this kind of music. I thought by now there would have been a bunch of bands for us to play with here in Canada and there’s not. This has helped us, we have had great opportunities because of that and we have gotten traction because of it as well. And now we have our record coming out and I think its going to be released world wide and now things are starting to happen.

Dante: You said you were in a band before this. What kind of music were you playing?

Jeremy Widerman: In that band I was just a guitar player, playing what I was told to play. I loved being on tour but I kind of gotten eaten up it. When I joined that band it was a lot heavier. When I joined I thought I was joining a punk rock band. And that Punk Rock band I joined was turning into a Screamo band. I have never been on tour before that and before I knew it I was in a Pop Rock band. Then it hit me on the side of the head like a ton of bricks. I said to myself ”I would never listen to this band”. And at that time I was going through a few life changes and I was just not going to make that compromise any more. I’m just done. I am not going to be in a band I would not listen to. And with out being to harsh I think a lot of people should ask them selves that same question. I really think a lot of people lie to them selves about that. They are in a band, they work hard at what they do and they think it’s great. I think that’s what’s going on with rock music now and I hope that’s what sets us apart because I love our band, I love our songs and I love playing them live and I know the rest of the band feels the same way.

Dante: Your video is for the song “Sweet Mountain River“. What is the video about?

Jeremy Widerman: The video is cool. The video is about this very attractive young lady who leaves the city to go find her self and she ends up in the middle of the forest where she finds her hippie roots and she also finds a pounding rock band. The video was fun to shoot.

Dante: What is one of the things you like about being on the road?

Jeremy Widerman: I love having people of all ages come out to the shows but when a 50 or 60 year old person comes up to me that has seen Led Zeppelin or the original bands of the 60’s and 70’s and says you guys are good. Or I love what you do. That is a great feeling. Because they were there. They lived that.

Dante: What or who inspired you to play music?

Jeremy Widerman: Wow man to be honest I was about 13 when that whole grunge thing started to happen and that’s what made me think I could do this. Then I grew out of that and started to get into punk but then it came full circle and led back to the 60’s and 70’s classic rock sound. The biggest inspirations for the band is 1969 to 1971 Grand Funk Railroad. That is what prompted me and Jon to start this band. We were sitting around one day saying 1970 Grand Funk Railroad is the greatest band in the world. That shit is so good and so under appreciated now a days. Everyone talks about Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin, which I love but Grandfunk are not even in the conversation and to me they are the godfathers of riff rock. I think when you take the 70’s and try to rehash it, it’s not nearly as exciting as taking the sprit and passion from it and adding in the newer influences as well. That’s what I think we do.

Dante: Who produced “Furiosity” ?

Jeremy Widerman: That is a real good question only because I love the guy, Eric Ratz. Some producers are just assholes and think real highly of themselves but he is not like that. He did the “Brown” E.P. and we went back to him for this. He takes his time, he is collaborative, he is helpful. He is a real good guy.

Dante: Is there anything you would like to say to your fans before we end this?

Jeremy Widerman: Our fans are the best. I really mean that. They are the ones that showed us we should do this full time. I have to thank them for that because they are the ones that showed us we can take this to the next level. And I can’t wait for them to hear the new record.

FOR MORE INFO CHECK OUT:

http://www.ilovemonstertruck.com

I sat down with Volbeat Guitarist Rob Caggiano before the band performed at The Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg PA, 5/6. This was very cool, because I am a huge Anthrax fan as well as a big fan of Volbeat. Check out the interview below.

Dante: How does it feel being in Volbeat after leaving Anthrax?

Rob Caggiano: It feels great. I am really proud of this new record and the shows so far have been amazing. It feels natural.

Dante: Why did you leave Anthrax?

Rob Caggiano: I love the guys in Anthrax. There is no bad blood at all. They are like my second family but I felt like I needed a change. And I think the main reason for that was it was never a creative outlet for me. After talking to friends and people that are close to me about it, everyone seemed to think it was just a matter of time before I started to feel this way. I didn’t even know I was feeling this way until it hit me one day and I started to think “why am I not psyched to do this”.

Dante: It’s just weird how things work out. You and Scott (Ian) did The Dame Things album and toured with Volbeat. And that seemed like it transitioned into you joining Volbeat.

Rob Caggiano: Well that’s where I met these guys for the first time and got introduced to their music. And I have been fan ever since. That was a real fun tour. When the whole thing went down with Anthrax Michael called me a day or two later and ask me if I was interested in flying out to Denmark to produce the new Volbeat record. And of course I was all over it. I was excited to do it. Like I said, I am a fan of the band and I like these guys as people and I knew we could make a killer record together. When I got to Demark and started going over the tunes, most of them were finished and Michael would ask me “what would you do here” and we started collaborating. I had tons of ideas. We were just going back and forth and being creative. The chemistry was killer. And that session was the catalyst to what was to come a few weeks later. So I think it was four songs I collaborated on. For this record.

Dante: I also heard you worked with Bruce Springsteen. How did that happen?

Rob Caggiano: Yes I did. I worked with Bruce Springsteen. That was an awesome experience. I produced a record for an amazing singer song writer named Jesse Malin, we did this record called “Glitter In The Gutter” and we sat down for pre production and I was checking out all the material and the band was packing up and he side “I have this one tune that probably wont be on the record but ill play it for you anyway”. The song was called “Broken Radio”, instantly I said we have to get Bruce on this song. Bruce Springsteen is Jesse’s idol, and he was like “no way, it will never happen” and I said “lets record the song and send it to him.” So we continued with the record and we were just about finished with it and we heard nothing from Springsteen and thought “well it was worth a shot a least.” I remember Jesse was in the booth and we were tracking his vocals, the phone rang and I knew instantly it was Bruce by the sound of his voice. He heard the song, he thought it was a beautiful song and he invited Jesse and I to his house. It was amazing, absolutely amazing.

Dante: After this tour what’s next?

Rob Caggiano: We are headlining The Monster Energy Drink Rock Allegiance Tour with H.I.M., All That Remains and Airbourne. That should be a lot of fun and we are really looking forward to that.

Dante: Is there anything you want to say to your fans. The ones that stuck with you.

Rob Caggiano: The fans that stuck with me I would love to thank because this really has been a wild ride and it seems like it’s only the beginning. I am having a blast and I could not be happier right now and I am really proud of this new record. If you like good Rock N Roll and good music check out Volbeat’s new record Outlaw Gentlemen And Shady Ladies.

FOR MORE INFO CHECK OUT:

http://www.volbeat.dk


http://www.facebook.com/volbeat


http://www.twitter.com/volbeat

Monster Energy’s Rock Allegiance Tour, Featuring Volbeat, HIM, All That Remains + Airbourne 

http://rockallegiance.com/news/

AND DON’T FORGET TO LIKE ”ROCKNIGHTMARE.COM”  ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

Dante: Hey Clinton, thanks for taking the time to talk with me.

Clinton Cunanan: No problem man.

Dante: Tell us about your album?

Clinton Cunanan: Our Album has been out since September. The Album is called “Better Days“. It was released on Megaforce Records/ Thermal Entertainment and we are just really grateful to be able to be doing this. Its 11 songs about my life. It’s about situations and things I had to go through, so this was kind of like my therapy.

Dante: And you also have a new single out right?

Clinton Cunanan: “Writing On The Wall” is our second single from the album. It’s been out for about five weeks now. And it’s doing really well on the charts. I don’t think people realize how much money it takes to be in a band. Let alone to get a song on radio.

Dante: Is having a career in music, is it everything you thought it would be?

Clinton Cunanan: Touring is a way of life. It is not what I thought it would be. It is more work than anything. But it’s also fun being in a new city every night and meeting new people. We did over 230 shows last year. I think we have done over 100 shows this year so far. Thermal Entertainment really has been the key to our success. They trust me on the music side of things and I trust them on the business side of things. it’s a shame it takes so much money for good music to get out and be heard. Because I think people have been kind of brain washed with that they think music is. They are limited to what they hear on the radio because a lot of people will not take the initiative to go out and find new music or go to local shows.

I think everyone that gets into music thinks it all sex, drugs and rock and roll. They think they are going to get Def Leppard rich. But its nothing like that at all. Most of my day consists of about 12 to 15 hours in the van; I sleep about 2 hours a day, responding to emails from radio stations, publicist, management, record label and fans. When we get to the venue we have to deal with corporate sponsors like Jägermeister and sound exchange. We need to do paper work for them. Lining up photo shoots and video shoots. Its non stop. It’s a lot of work on top of trying to find time to write new music.

Dante: Are you writing new music now?

Clinton Cunanan: If you would have asked me that question 3 months ago, I would have told you it was already written. But you have to evolve and as the bands grows you have to grow with it. So right now it’s safe to say I have about 20 to 25 solid ideas. Maybe 10 to 12 songs written. I have to be honest, I don’t know how it’s going to go until we get into the studio and start recording. I think I have some new stuff written but I really don’t know until we get in there. We just need to find the time to get in there and do it. Our tour schedule is so demanding, when you wake up, you start working and when you go to sleep it’s because you passed out.

Dante: A lot of bands would not be that honest. They want you to think it’s all great all the time.

Clinton Cunanan: Anything worth having is worth fighting for and I think that what people like about us.

Dante: What can people expect from Another Lost Year live?

Clinton Cunanan: When we first started out I thought we were one on the more energetic bands until we got our ass handed to us a couple times then we learned how to entertain. that’s what we are there to do. We found out that people like the songs for what there are. And when I go to a show I like to see the bands play the songs the way they are supposed to be conveyed. We adapted that philosophy and we are really high energy and tight. Always expect the unexpected with us. We are always hanging out in the crowd before and after the show. That’s why we are there, because people are coming to see us so we don’t hide in the van. We like to talk and hang out with our fans.

Dante: Is there anything you want to add before we wrap this up?

Clinton Cunanan: If Another Lost Year is not your cup of tea that’s ok. But never stop supporting live original music. There are artist out there baring their heart and souls for everyone to see. Take it for what it is, and if you are sitting at home on a Wednesday night with nothing to do, go to a local music venue and go see a show.

Dante: Hey thank you for your time Clinton.

Clinton Cunanan: No Man, Thank you. Any time.

FOR MORE INFO CHECK OUT:

Dante: How did your tour with Volbeat go?

Matt Baird: It was amazing. The shows went great. Their fans were good to us. And the guys in Volbeat are some of the nicest people we have ever played with.  It was really cool.

Dante: Looking back what was the high light of the tour?

Matt Baird: All of the shows were great. I think all were sold out but two. Spoken is a Christian band. We have existed in this band for the purpose to do what god wants us to do and to share it with people. We had so many conversations with people that said to us” you know, I don’t believe in god and I don’t believe in anything you believe in but I love your band and I love your music”. I think that is a special thing when people can look past titles and hear the music. That was one of the most amazing things about this tour. It was great. All of Volbeat’s fans wear so kind to us.

Dante: What inspires your song writing?

Matt Baird: We write songs about life, love, grace and redemption. That’s what our album “Illusion” is about, the first songs that were written were about bitterness and confusion and the last songs written were about grace and redemption. The album became a concept record without us planning on it.

Dante: Do you find it hard to be a Christian band?

Matt Baird: The thing is, we didn’t start out trying to hide the fact that we are all believers. We are who we are. We want our whole lives to be an example of bible not just our band. But I think we deliver our songs in a different way then a lot of the other Christian bands. For us, it’s not just about music. We love writing music and we love playing our songs but we are just lucky enough to have this as our platform. If someone wants to dismiss us because we are a Christian band that’s fine but I would rather them check out our music first then make their decision.

Dante: Some people get turned off by the term or label “Christian band“.

Matt Baird: We are not a band that is pushy about it. I just feel, I would not be bringing any honor to god if I did not say something on stage. And that pretty much consist of “we put our hope in Jesus Christ” and that’s all I really said on the Volbeat tour and that’s all I would say on a Spoken tour as well.

Dante: The Volbeat tour might have been the first time some people have seen you or even heard of you. I know you have been around longer than some people might think. For people that don’t know or might be hearing of you for the first time, can you tell us how long Spoken has been around for?

Matt Baird: We have been a band for 17 years. I started the band when I was 19 years old and went on the road about 8 months after we started the band. Recorded our first album at the end of 1996. It came out in 97 and we have been on tour non stop. We have toured mostly in the Christian market. We have been at it for along time. Now we are with e-One Music and the tour with Volbeat has been the most amazing thing to happen to our career.

Dante: Is there anything you want to say to your fans before we wrap it up?

Matt Baird: Thank you listening and for having any part in what we are doing. It means the world to us that so many people care about what we are doing.

FOR MORE INFO CHECK OUT:

http://www.spokenmusic.com/

https://www.facebook.com/spoken

https://twitter.com/spokenmusic

AND DON’T FORGET TO LIKE ”ROCKNIGHTMARE.COM”  ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

http://www.youtube.com/user/SpokenOfficial

Dante: Hey what’s up Stacey, thanks for checking in?

Stacey Blades: No problem.

Dante: First I have to ask. Why did you decide to leave L.A.Guns?

Stacey Blades: I played my last show with L.A.Guns in the beginning of December 2012. It was a big show that Alice Cooper puts together every year called “Alice Cooper’s Christmas Pudding“. It’s a pretty big event, Johnny Depp and Don Felder from the Eagles were there. We played and Alice Played. It was a great way to go out, on a high note. I just got really burnt out last year. I wanted to take a break and the band didn’t want to stop of course. I was having problems with my back. I suffer from Sciatica, and we were tour so much and it was just torture on my leg. It first happened it was in 2008. I had back pain and then it started going down my leg. I lost the feeling in my foot for about 8 weeks. It’s something I just have to live with. My leg feels a little better now that I have been off the road for about 6 months. It was just that last year with the band and getting into a cramped van for 100’s of miles. It’s tough. Anyone that does it will tell you. I was just burnt out mentally and physically. And when it gets to that point the people you work with start to notice. And it was not far to do that to them or to myself. Among other things I just felt it was time to move on.  L.A.Guns is a great band and they have a great catalog. I just was not having fun anymore. And my guitar playing was going in a different direction. I wanted to put a little more of a progressive style of guitar playing into the band and it just was not gelling. I think they wanted to go the opposite way. But it was an amicable split. I have nothing but respect for the guys and we wished each other well.

Dante: What have you been working on since you left L.A.Guns?

Stacey Blades: I have been working with a company called Soundtrack Loops. It is a company that does software packages for iMovies and other multi-media compositions. We did about 22 different 2 minute guitar pieces in all different styles. And those have all different rhythm patterns. You can use those in commercials and movies and television. And all different kinds of stuff. It was very rewarding as a musician because I got to play a lot of different styles from “Stevie Ray Vaughan” to Eric Johnson to  Eddie Van Halen. It was really a lot of fun coming up with all the different patterns and styles. And those went on the market a few weeks back internationally. So I am really excited about that. It’s a package and I urge people and fans that are involved in that type of stuff or if you just want to check it out go directly to www.soundtrackloops.com. The stuff came out really cool. For instance, when we were recording I wanted to do something that sounded like Deep Purple, so the idea was to capture Richie Blackmore’s style, sound and types of guitars he would use. It was just so much fun and I spent about a month doing it. The whole package is available for purchase. I think its $42.95 and you get 22 guitar pieces.

Dante: Anything else going on?

Stacey Blades: There is some stuff in the works, I am working on some new projects and I’ll also be playing a few acoustic shows with Robert Mason. Robert plays piano too. It’s just for fun. Robert has his gig with Warrant and we will do a few shows around his schedule. We have two shows booked in PA. and I am really looking forward to them. Robert is a great singer and a nice person and I think there is going to be a nice dynamic between the two of us.

Dante: Are you going to playing any original stuff?

Stacey Blades: We are going to be playing all kinds of stuff, originals, covers, some Warrant, L.A.Guns and maybe even some Roxx Gang.

Dante: Funny your mention Roxx Gang. I had seen a question on your Facebook Page about a Roxx Gang reunion. I know you answered it there but I wanted to ask the same question considering the question came up and some people may not have seen it on your page.

Stacey Blades: It’s funny that you bring that up because there are people asking about that for next years “Monsters Of Rock Cruise“. And my answer is, I don’t know. Roxx Gang was a great band with out a doubt. But I have not spoken with the singer Kevin Steel in 13 years. I think it would be fun to revisite. But I don’t know. Never say never. Anything is possible.

Dante: Hey Stacey, thank you for your time.

Stacey Blades: No problem anytime

MASON/BLADES ACOUSTIC DATES

04/26/2013 Warren, PA Holiday Inn Ballroom

04/27/2013 Marshburg, PA Fireside Grille

FOR MORE INFO CHECK OUT:

WWW.SOUNDTRACKLOOPS.COM

http://soundtrackloops.com/shop/a-loops/stacey-blades-guitar-session-stems/

http://staceyblades.com/

https://www.facebook.com/#!/stacey.blades.1?fref=ts

AND DON’T FORGET TO LIKE ”ROCKNIGHTMARE.COM”  ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

Hatriot released their debut CD “Heroes Of Origin” worldwide on February 12, 2013 and already they are working on their for follow up. I spoke with lead vocalist Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza and bassist Cody Souza and here is what they had to say. Check It Out Below

Dante: I just want to say congratulations to you both for a killer album?

Cody Souza: Thank you, it was really great writing it. We had a lot of fun.

Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza: Thank you, I’m looking forward to the next one.

Dante: Next one?  Are you already in writing mode?

Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza: We are writing our follow up now. We are going to be in the studio in July and you will have it by January 2014.

Dante: Same label Massacre Records?

Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza: Yeah same label.

Dante: “Heroes Of Origin” just came out why are you in writing mode so soon?

Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza: We have not latched on to a tour, so instead of sitting around being lazy we are writing and we are going to make our next record.

Dante: How much do you have so far?

Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza: We have five songs already.

Dante: Is the writing style going to be different?

Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza: I would say you just got our “Kill’em All” and now we are going to give you our “Ride The Lighting” in terms of sound and depth. It’s still going to be very heavy and very fast but I think it might have more of a dynamic to it.

Dante: “Fear Within” was on your E.P. Why didn’t you put on “Heroes Of  Origin“?

Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza: “Fear Within” We are going to put it on our next album. We are going to ad a longer intro to it and clean it up a bit and it will be on our next record for sure. I thought this album was just way to brutally heavy for the song. I think it will fit in better on the next album.

Dante: How has the fan response been?

Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza: It’s been amazing so far. I have not read one bad review.

Dante: Do you have a favorite song on Heroes Of Origin?

Cody Souza: My favorite two songs on the record are “And Your Children To Be Dammed” and “Shadows Of The Buried”.

Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza: “Suicide Run” and “Shadows Of The Buried”. “Suicide Run” is just so brutal. When Nick comes in with the beat half way through the first verse its just typical mosh pit speed. “Shadows Of The Buried” I love the whole premise of the song. I love the riff. The way it starts out. It’s very Slayer-ish. It’s dark, it’s evil. I just love it. But don’t get me wrong I love every song on the record. It’s very hard for me to pick but if I had to it would be those two songs.

Dante: What is it like being in a band with your brother and your father?

Cody Souza: The whole experience is pretty cool and really unique. I love how the work turns out and every one gets along really well.

Dante: Growing up who were some of your influences?

Cody Souza: I was born in 1990. So music was kind of weird growing up. I always had the Thrash influence like Slayer and Testament but my brother and I got into a lot of newer bands like Slipknot. I really loved Paul Gray. Than I got into Alex Webster’s playing and other bands like Black Dahlia Murder as well.

Dante: So far out of all the live shows you have done is there any one that stands out the most for you?

Cody Souza: I think the one we did with Testament. That one was great. The place was packed and I feel we went over really well. We did other shows with Forbidden and Death Angel that went great.

Dante: You run the Hatriot Facebook page correct?

Cody Souza: Yeah my brother and I do most of it. We try to repost as many interviews as we can and as much news as we can. Still shots from the videos we have done and up coming shows. We try to be as interactive as we can with the people.

Dante: You said you are not locked into a tour. Are you looking for a tour?

Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza: We are. We are talking to booking agents. The thing is we have been very careful with everything that we have done so far. There have been a few things that have been offered but we didn’t take them because they were not really right for us. So we are looking and talking so we will see. But we felt that if we did not hit the road right out of the gate with “Heroes Of Origin“, then we should start writing the follow up. We have two rehearsals a week that are completely dedicated to the next album.

Dante: Where can people buy “Heroes Of Origin“?

Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza: It was released worldwide. I tell everyone go to Amozon.com that’s the best way to get it.

Dante: Do you know how many songs are going to be on the Follow up?

Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza: Defiantly 50 minute’s worth of music. I am going to say 10 songs definitely. If we need to go to 12 songs we will. Kosta is writing an 11 minute epic. We want a forward march type song on there with a lot of leads and a lot of cool shit. We are very a where of what we are doing right now. A normal band that put a record and that has gotten good reviews like this would not be writing there next record. They would be basking in there “Heroes Of Origin” which we are but, we also have an agenda. And we think if we keep nailing the market every year with a killer record the market is not going to have a choice but to look at us and take us out on tour and to take us to the heights we want to go. That’s why we are working. And we are not writing shit music just to put out records. Just like this one. “Heroes Of  Origin” was not a piece of shit. With everything that I have done in the past I could never do that. I could never put out a record with a few good songs and have the rest be shit. No way. I wanted people to know, I am back.

Hatriot is:

Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza – Vocals
Kosta V. – Guitars
Miguel Esparza – Guitars
Nick Souza – Drums
Cody Souza – Bass

FOR MORE INFO CHECK OUT

http://www.hatriotmetal.com


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http://www.twitter.com/hatriotmetal

ALSO CHECK OUT THE VIDEO  Blood Stained Wings

AND BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR HATRIOT’S NEW VIDEO

 ”And Your Children To Be Damned”

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